The Steam Frame is just around the corner but the Steam Machine has already killed my interest only Half-Life could save it now

Date:
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Description:
Im TechRadars biggest VR champion, and I dont care if the Steam Frame is just around the corner.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A VR game developer has teased that the Steam Frame is landing soon The Steam Machine launched at a much higher-than-expected price A Half-Life game has been teased for the Steam Frame, but would that save it? When Valves new hardware was announced late last year, I couldnt care less about the Steam Machine; I was far more interested in the Steam Frame standalone VR headset it was preparing for us.

At the time, I was convinced it might not only kill the Meta Quest 3, but it could revitalize the whole VR gaming space. With reports that the Steam Frame is just around the corner according to Gunman Contracts developer ANB_Seth
on Discord, who said the game will launch alongside the headset, with the
team and publisher confident that launch is coming soon I should therefore
be extremely excited. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Im not.

And its all thanks to the Steam Machine. You may like Valve Steam Machine review Valve's Steam Machine is coming this summer, but its price is still unknown 'Stim Machine' rival PC outguns Steam Machine easily at the same
price My excitement is measurable (it's low) (Image credit: Valve) The debut announcement lacked pricing or a release date for the Frame or Machine, but there was plenty of excitement at the possibility the gadgets promised. However, since then the Steam Machine made its full-on debut with a thud rather than a thunderous applause middling specs were met with a ridiculous $1,049 / 879 / AU$1,609 starting price.

Admittedly, the RAM crisis plays a big part. The computing component cost crunch has made RAM and other essential computing parts a lot more expensive. This isnt helped by Valves insistence on not copying the wider industrys approach to undercut themselves with console pricing selling at a loss to build a community base thatll help them recoup revenue with software sales meaning its tech looks relatively expensive. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The Steam Frame will likely cost similar to its Machine sibling, perhaps more once you factor in controllers if they are included by default (they arent
for the Steam Machine) and its need for a display. Even if its effectively a wearable Steam Deck, I have no interest in paying this much for a gaming-focused headset.

Why?

Because if I want to play non-VR games, a handheld will always be more comfortable than a bulky headset for long play sessions and if I do turn to
a headset, a more versatile option like the Samsung Galaxy XR would allow me to stream flat games and be productive from one single VR machine. What to read next Valve drops its biggest hint yet that the Steam Machine is about to arrive New Steam Machine clone shows copycats are missing the point here
Steam Machine is pricey yet sold out in Japan but be wary of cheap clones

The Steam Frame is expected to be a gaming-capable gadget only.

Meanwhile, for VR games, the Meta Quest 3S costs half as much as the Steam Frame and can play basically any worthwhile VR game. The exceptions are a handful of PC-VR exclusives which require a half-decent PC to run them,
though there arent many of these. (Image credit: Valve) One of the few non-Meta Quest 3S-playable VR games worth your time is the now six-year-old Half-Life: Alyx . And here lies the only thing that could convince me the Steam Frame is a good idea: we get a new Valve game exclusive to the system.

There are rumors Valve is working on a follow-up to Half-Life: Alyx, and if thats true, and its a PCVR exclusive that plays best on the Steam Frame, then that could be enough to convince some folks to buy into its upcoming
hardware.

Now, this wouldnt change my mind specifically the Half-Life hype passed me
by but for major fans of the series it could seriously help Valves hardwares popularity. Conversely, if its a flat game you can play on any Steam-compatible PC with decent specs, I dont see it saving the Steam Frame.

Of course well have to wait and see what Valve has in store for us theres no guarantee the Steam Frame is anywhere close to launch, just a hunch from a developer but I expect we wont be waiting too much longer for Valves VR hardware. And when it does finally debut, I can pass my final verdict, though Im not holding my breath that itll be any better than our three-and-a-half-star Steam Machine rating . Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/virtual-reality-gaming/the-steam-frame-is-jus t-around-the-corner-but-the-steam-machine-has-already-killed-my-interest-only- half-life-could-save-it-now


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)